Gender/Cultural Studies

Simmons University’s Master of Arts in Gender/Cultural Studies program examines intersecting systems of power and privilege and the ways in which race, ethnicity, nationality, class, gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation are constructed within the United States and in international contexts. Simmons fosters a supportive, stimulating environment with small class sizes, diverse student cohorts, faculty mentors, and a flexible curriculum. The master’s degree consists of 32 credit hours (8 courses). Most students complete the degree in four semesters of study over two years. Part-time students may take up to five years to complete the degree.

Why study Gender/Cultural Studies?

At Simmons, the Gender/Cultural Studies program strives to prepare and inspire the next generation of scholars, educators, activists, and professional leaders. Whether you hope to pursue a PhD or enter the professional world immediately after graduation, Simmons is where you will lay your intellectual foundation.

What will you learn?

Gender/Cultural Studies degree candidates must take our Seminar in Gender/Cultural Studies, Cultural Theory, and one additional Gender/Cultural Studies course. In addition to these courses, most students take four core elective courses and all students complete at least 4 capstone credit hours. See the list of Gender/Cultural Studies courses in Program Requirements below.

In addition to regular coursework, Gender/Cultural Studies students must complete a final capstone project—consisting of at least 4 credit hours —that furthers their individual academic and professional interests. Capstone projects may take the form of an internship, a research project, or a thesis.

Recent Capstone Projects

Selective Visibilities: Navigating Identity as an Asian-Indian American Woman through Body and Beauty

'Strong Women Strong Girls': Mutual Empowerment in the Age of Postfeminist Girl Culture

Color of Her Skin, Content of Her Character: The Media vs. Michelle Obama.

Made Visible: Analyzing News Coverage of Transgender Students at Women's Colleges

Active Minds, Docile Bodies, and the Freedom to Read: How U.S. Prison Libraries Function as Instruments of State Power

Students may further tailor their studies by completing a dual degree with our Master in Public Policy, M.S. in Education, or Master of Arts in Teaching, which leads to initial teaching licensure for Elementary Education.

Drawing from coursework in the humanities and social sciences, the Gender/Cultural Studies program offers flexible paths of study to suit careers in higher education, healthcare, social services, schools, and non-profits.

Learn more about our Master’s in Gender/Cultural Studies!

Are you looking for more than just a gender studies degree? The Gender/Cultural Studies program at Simmons University takes a culture-centric approach to women and gender studies. We'll guide you through the requirements and deadlines — and get you on your way. Request more information or apply now!

Candidates for the Gender/Cultural Studies master's degree must complete 32 credits (8 courses). Most students complete the degree in four semesters of study over two years. Part-time students may take up to five years to complete the degree. Learn more in the Gender/Cultural Studies Program Booklet.

Coursework

GCS required courses (8 credits)

Students must take both of the following courses:

GCS 403 Seminar in Gender/Cultural Studies

GCS 430 Cultural Theory

GCS core elective course (4 credits)

Most students will take four GCS elective courses:

GCS 406 Feminism and Literature

GCS 410 Issues in International Studies

GCS 412 Theoretical Approaches to Cultural Narratives

GCS 415 Feminism and Economic Difference

GCS 417 Race Theory

Capstone (4-8 credits)

All students must complete at least 4 capstone credit hours and present their work at the GCS colloquium. The capstone options are list below:

GCS 455 Thesis [two semesters; 4 credit hours each semester]

GCS 460 Project

GCS 470 Internship

GCS 480 Gender/Cultural Fieldwork

GCS electives (12-16 credits)

Most students will take four GCS elective courses.

AST 513 The Black Struggle for Schooling in America

AST 529 Race, Culture, Identity and Achievement

AST 536 Black Narratives of Oppression, Resistance, and Resiliency

AST/SOC/WST 540 Intimate Family Violence: A Multicultural Perspective

AST 588 Black Popular Culture and the Education of Black Youth

CHL 401 Criticism of Literature for Children

ENGL 506 Victorian Literature and Culture

ENGL 507 Jane Austen and Her Contemporaries

ENGL 508 The Postcolonial Novel

ENGL 517 Toni Morrison and American Literature

ENGL 520 American Women's Poetry

ENGL 527 Race and Gender in Psychoanalytic Discourse

ENGL 528 American Ghosts: the Cultural Politics of Haunting

ENGL 554 Studies in Film Genre: Melodrama

ENGL 598 Feminist Media Studies

HIST 527 Archives, History, and Collective Memory

HIST 529 Seminar: Film and Historical Representation

HIST 560 Seminar in the History of Women and Gender

HIST 561 Cross Cultural Encounters: Contacts, Connection and Conflict

HIST 564 Rape of Nanjing

HIST 565 9/11 Narratives

HIST 567 Memory and the Holocaust

HIST 571 Seminar in Early American History

HIST 573 Seminar in 19th-Century U.S. History

HIST 574 Modern U.S. History Seminar

HIST 575 Cold War Culture

HIST 577 Seminar in Modern European History

HIST 597 Historical Methods and Research

INRL 590 Seminar in International Relations

PHIL 532 Law and Philosophy

SOCI 500 Special Topics

SOCI 500 Gender and Islam

SOCI/AST 511 Critical Race Legal Theory

SOCI 521 Sociology of Food

SOCI 538 (TC) Cross-Cultural Alliance Building

SOCI 539 Qualitative Research Workshop

SOCI 544 Sociology of Poetry and Prose

SOCI 545 Health Systems and Policy

SOCI 547 Antiracism and Justice Work

WGST 554 Feminist Theories

WGST 580 Gender and Queer Theory

Ready to take the next step? We'll guide you through the requirements and deadlines — and get you started on your way.